Here's What One Guy Once Wrote - - - Definitions of “New Old Stock” and “Mint”.

”Mint” is Different. The description of a watch as being in “mint” condition is entirely different from describing it as “New Old Stock”. The description of a watch as being in “mint” condition is a description of the watch’s physical condition (i.e., that the watch is in the same condition as when it left the factory). So the watch may have been worn, and if it remains in perfect condition after being worn, it can be described as “mint”; but once it is worn, it as not NOS. So we do see watches that are in “mint” condition, but not NOS.

“Restored” or “Refinished” is not “Mint”. Just as we have the category of “assembled from NOS parts” (as described above), we can have a watch that has been worn, and has shown signs of this wear (for example, nicks and scratches on the case), but has been refinished / restored so that it appears to be in original condition. This watch should not be described as being in “mint condition”, as it is not the way that it left the factory (or as it left the “mint”, if it were a coin). Such a watch could be described as “restored to mint condition” or “refinished to mint condition”. A watch can have gotten some dirt or dust on it, and had this removed, without affecting its status as being in “mint” condition after this gentle cleaning.

The Bottom Line: Perhaps the key to all this is that different collectors and dealers may use the terms “NOS” and “Mint” in different ways, and that transactions in vintage watches will be more successful if the buyer and seller go beyond one-word descriptions of vintage watches and communicate clearly about the condition and history of a watch.

: Ape,

: To me mint could not possibly indicate a refurbished watch. Can a
: coin which has been cleaned...even if it was mint before it was
: cleaned be mint...ABSOLUTELY NOT!

: Good and Very Good leave some room for discussion. Mint, in my
: opinion does not leave any...or at least not very much at all.

: BTW, I don't ever pay any attention to the terms NOS or Mint in
: eBay or other marketing descriptions. These terms may make a
: smile cross my face but they have been rendered practically
: useless these days.

: JohnCote